Ex-Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel reportedly heading to Los Angeles Chargers
In an alternate universe, the Dolphins would have drafted Justin Herbert instead of Tua Tagovailoa in 2020, and Mike McDaniel perhaps would have had the opportunity to coach a more durable quarterback with a stronger arm.
Everyone apparently now will be able to see how that marriage might have worked out.
McDaniel is ready to accept an offer to become the Chargers’ offensive coordinator provided he doesn’t get the head coaching job with the Ravens or Raiders, multiple networks reported Tuesday.
According to ESPN, the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers also had interest in McDaniel for their offensive coordinator job.
McDaniel on Tuesday declined an offer for a second interview for the Cleveland Browns head coaching job.
Besides the Ravens, Browns and Raiders, he also interviewed for the head coaching jobs with Atlanta (which hired Kevin Stefanski) and Tennessee (which hired Robert Saleh).
The Dolphins selected Tagovailoa over Herbert with the fifth pick in the 2020 draft two years before Brian Flores was fired and McDaniel was hired.
While McDaniel helped Tagovailoa achieve great success, statistically, in 2022 and 2023, he regressed this past season and was benched for Miami’s final three games.
Herbert has had a better overall career but is 0-3 in the playoffs and struggled in a recent postseason loss to New England while playing behind an injury-plagued, ineffective offensive line.
With the Chargers, he will work alongside coach Jim Harbaugh and return to a state where he has some roots and worked previously for the 49ers.
He will also have a chance to coach at Hard Rock Stadium again; the Chargers play at the Dolphins next season.
McDaniel went 35-35 in four years as Dolphins coach before being fired five days after the season. Miami this week hired Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to replace him.
This story was originally published January 20, 2026 at 10:48 PM.
